In a letter to the current owner dated 26th January 2017, the
records kept by John Broadwood & Sons, Ltd. reveal that this
piano bearing the serial number 16336 "was manufactured at our
Horseferry Road workshops, Westminster, London, and completed on
the 24th day of February in the year 1845. Our records describe
your piano as a grand pianoforte pat repetition amboyna wood
elegant with carved and gilt ornaments, retail price £ 262 and 10
shillings."

"The instrument was first despatched from our premises on Monday
8th September 1845. It had been sold to a certain J.H. Gurney of
Norwich, county Norfolk. The piano was taken by our porter Mr. Wren
to St. Catherine's Steam Wharf, port of London on the river
Thames, where it was loaded onto the steam chip called Ailsa
Craig for delivery by sea to Norwich. For the duration of the
journey, [the] piano was placed in a specially made wooden packing
case. In addition to the piano, we also supplied Mr. Gurney with a
matching stool and a canterbury in the same shipment."

The letter goes on to describe " the Gurney family of
Norwich....were very famous in their day as bankers (forerunners of
Barclay's Bank), as Quaker philanthropists, and as ornithologists.
As you will see from the details provided about John Henry Gurney
(1819-1890) who appears to have been the original purchaser of
[the] piano, he was also a Member of Parliament for Kings Lynn in
1854, 1857 and 1859, as a member of the Liberal Party. The Gurneys
were extremely wealthy, which explains how they were able to afford
a highly expensive and lavishly decorative piano..."

According to the Broadwood records, the piano was received Friday
17th March 1854 and Saturday 28th July 1888 for repairs. From 1988
until the date of this inquiry the letter states that the "piano
disappears from our records."

Condition Report*:
Top board with warping and apparently age-related crack, some flaking to gesso, scattered losses to decorative elements, piano keys wtih age-related cracks and toning, pedal mechanisms missing, few scattered flake to veneer, other scattered age-related cracks, with wear commensurate with age and use. Heritage does not guarantee the completeness or working order of pianos and encourages in-person inspection of this lot.

*Heritage Auctions strives to provide as much information as possible but encourages in-person inspection by bidders.
Statements regarding the condition of objects are only for general guidance and should not be relied upon as complete statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation,
warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted in the condition report but are apparent in the provided photos which are considered part of the condition report.
Please note that we do not de-frame lots estimated at $1,000 or less and may not be able to provide additional details for lots valued under $500.
All lots are sold "AS IS" under the Terms & Conditions of Auction.